Advent

Advent is the beginning of the Church’s year and is the time of preparation for the celebration of Christmas.

It starts four Sundays before Christmas.

Advent means ‘coming’.

Christians think about the coming of Jesus, past, present and future.

- The past: Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem

- The present: Jesus’ coming into our lives this year

- The future: Jesus’ coming at the end of time.

Often churches are made to look slightly more simple – for example, flowers are taken away. When priests wear coloured vestments for services, the colour of Advent is purple – symbolising preparation and saying sorry.

Churches and homes often have an Advent wreath. It is a ring of greenery with five candles – four purple ones and one white one. One extra purple candle is lit on each Sunday of Advent and the white one is for Christmas Day.

Other people have Advent candles marked with the numbers from 1 to 24 and burned each day or Advent calendars with different pictures behind each of 24 doors.

The emphasis is on counting down, waiting and preparation.